'archaeogeology' originates from Greek and modern English components: specifically the Greek prefix 'arkhaios' (as 'archaeo-') meaning 'ancient', and the Greek root 'geō' meaning 'earth' plus 'logos' meaning 'study', which together form the element 'geology' in modern English.

'archaeogeology' was formed in modern English by compounding the prefix 'archaeo-' (from Greek 'arkhaios') with the noun 'geology' (from Greek 'geō' + 'logos' via Latin/Old French and then modern English), producing the compound word meaning the study of geological aspects relevant to archaeology.

Initially components referred separately to 'ancient' and 'study of the earth'; over time the compound came to denote specifically the application of geological methods to archaeological research and site interpretation.